Archives for: January 2010, 14

Breath Hydrogen
I have been working with the professional version of the SWAMI program. I don't fully understand all the settings of this software but have confidence that Dr. D' Adamo is aware of the limitations of some users and has thrown hidden switches based on the information entered for a person. One of these entry fields is for breath hydrogen levels. It is an optional value and SWAMI will work without it, but in order to achieve optimal results for a client, let’s say with gut issues, having these values is helpful. With this in mind I set out to see if I could procure one of these gadgets. I had seen it used on patients at the University of Bridgeport clinic and again at Dr. D'Adamo's office so I was confident that I could operate one. New, a Breathe Hydrogen meter costs approximately $2000.00. Though a worthwhile tool, I was just not prepared to part with that kind of money. Then Lola, my cyber-friend from the forums, had the bright idea of looking for a second hand one, and so began my quest over the internet. I hit pay dirt at DOTmed, a medical auction site and scored one for 30% of the cost. It was new in the box, a trade show table display. It arrived as stated in the auction, in perfect condition and with a working battery. I confess, I had a few moments before it arrived, where I thought, “am I nuts” buying this thing but I would immediately console myself with, "you don't eat out, never go to the movies, and your hair color comes in a box, this is your hobby, enjoy it." What made it easier was the fact that my darling husband had just bought himself a car and I can't tell you the price but it was more then the $heckles I spent.
How does breath hydrogen relate to the Genotype and Blood Type Diet? Our bodies are colonized with thousands of organisms or flora. We have flora on our skin, in our noses and even in our ears. The gastrointestinal tract has the most diverse and abundant flora but the health of our bowel flora is hard to measure and most of us just hope we are getting it right by eating yogurt and taking acidophilis tablets. A breath hydrogen meter helps in determining your bowel health. High numbers mean you have an overgrowth of bacteria and low numbers mean you don't. It really is that simple. The SWAMI then uses that data to calculate food choices.
It’s easiest to do this test first thing in the morning since you need to fast for 10 hours. A baseline is obtained by blowing into the instrument. Then you drink a sugar syrup called lactulose. Once the client drinks the lactulose syrup, a breath hydrogen sample is measured every 15- 20 mins for an hour. The hour is about how long it takes for the lactulose to move through the gastrointestinal tract and the bacteria to produce the necessary hydrogen to be measured. The bacteria of the gastrointestinal tract produce hydrogen as a metabolic byproduct, some of that hydrogen is then absorbed through the gastric mucosa into the blood stream and released through your breath. Hydrogen is exhaled as you breathe and the meter measures the excreted hydrogen. The amount of breath hydrogen is directly proportional to the amount of gut bacteria. Dr. D'Adamo says that after three months of following your individual diet the clients breathe hydrogen levels will decrease, a sign of restored balance in the gut flora.
What is nice about this test is that it is objective, so the data can be collected as proof that the diet is working. The data from thousands of people who have been following their respective diets is able to be collected through the SWAMI software and used as further proof of the diets effectiveness on bowel health. It is an exciting time to be involved in this work and I constantly feel privileged to be part of it. I want so much for all of you to be healthy so you can enjoy life. We have a long road ahead of us, and I am confident that we can meet the challenges. Anyone locally interested in a breath hydrogen test let me know I would be happy to perform the test.
Andrea